Folding ladder



(Na-Model.)

0. DRAKB.

POLDING LADDBR.

No. 302,829. Patented July 29, 1.884.

ATTORNBYS.

it has for its object te so-eonstruet the Same Urre Srarrs arearr rrrera OUNINGHAM DRAKE, OF PI-IILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING LADDER.

SPECIPCA'IION frming part of Letters Patent Il'o. 302,829, dated July 29, 1884.

Application filed May 17, 1884. (No model.)

T0 a7 wh0m it may concern): Be 1t kn0wn that I, CUNINGHAM DRAKE, a eitizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia nse the same, reference being had to the aeeompanying drawings, whieh form a part of this speeification, and in whieh Figure 1 is a perspeetive view of my lllproved folding ladder, showing the same extended and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the Same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal seetional view taken through the end of one of the rungs and showing the eenneetionof the Same to the side rail of the ladder. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating tl1e method of e onneeting tl1e hinged supports to the side rails, and Fig. 5 is a side view showing n1y improved ladder folded.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

This invention relates te step-ladders; and

that they may be folded into the smallest possible spaee.

'10 this end the invention censists in the i111- proved eonstruetion and arrangement of parts, whieh will be hereinafter fully deseribed, and partieularlypointed out in the claims.

In tlne drawings, A A designate the side rails of my irnproved ladder, the inner sides of which are provided with grooves B extending through their entire 1ength.

C C are the rungs, tl1e ends of whieh are inserted nto the grooves B and secured by means of pivoting-pins 1). The upper ends of the rails A A are eonneeted by'means of a top step, E, whiel1 is hinged to the inner sides of the said side rails.

F designates the rear suppertingframe, whiel1 is composed of side pieees, G G, which are eennected to the upper ends of the side rails, A, in a manner whiel1 will be presently more fully described. Il1e said side pieces are eonneeted by diagenal braces II H, whiel1 latter are eenneeted by n1eans of a eentral piv0t eo1nposed of aset-serew which is adapted t0 slide 'reelyin a slot, 1, '0rmed in one of the braees. By means of the setserew whieh is designated by letter J, the said braees may be rigidly eonneeted witl1 eael1 ether. I would also state that sl0ts I may be formed in b0th of the braces instead of only in one of them.

The upper ends of the side pieees, G, of the supportingframe are hinged te the bloeks L, whieh are provided witl1 dovetailed grooves M, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Tl1e upper ends of the side rails of the ladder are also provided with eorresponding dovetailed grooves, N, and 0 is a key er double wedge, the heads of whieh, P P, are adapted to enter the dovetailed grooves M N,

and thus eonneet the side rails of the ladder with the side pieees of the supportingframe.

It will be seen that by this eonstruetion the stepladder may be folded in the ordinary mannerthat is, by bringing the supportingframe against the side rails of the ladder. 1Vhen it is desired te fold the ladder into the smallest possible eompass it is only necessary t0 release tl1e SGSOIGW J. The side rails of the ladder may then be folded togetherby simply raising 01 lifting ene of them. Tl1e rungs OWill tl1en be aeeommodated in the grooves B of the side rails; the top step, E, will fold up0n one of the side rails, as sh0wn in Fig. 5; one of the side pieees of the sup portng-frame will slide in an upward direct-i0n, s0 as tbring; the side pieees of the said frame together, and the diagonal braees H will fold up0n eaeh ether. By tightening the set-serew J the ladder will then be seeurely loeked in this position, as sl1own in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Haring thus deseribed my invention, I claim and desire t-0 secure by Letters Patentpf the United States 1. The combination, with a folding ladderrame, the side rails of wl1ieh are provided with dovetailed grooves at their upper ends, of a snpporting-'rame, the side pieces of whiel1 are provided at their upper ends with hinged loeks l1aving dovetailed grooves, and a key er double wedge connecbng the said blocks with a set-screw connecting the same, subsfjantally the sde rails of the ladder, substantially as as set f01th.

set f0rbh. In testimony that; I claim the foregoi ng as 2. In a foldng ladder, the combnabion,with my own I have hereunto affixed my signature 5 a folding ladder-frame, of a folding supportin presence of two witnesses.

in -frame eonnected adjustably 130 the upper ens of the side rails of the ladder, the said GUNINGHAM DRAKE supporting-frame being constructed of the two Vitnesses: side pieces connected by diagonal braces, 0ne LOUIS BAGGER, 10 or both of which are provided with slots, and AUGUST PETERSON. 

